Apparatus And Method For Facilitating Medication-Related Information

ABSTRACT

According to the preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG.  1,  a rack ( 10 ) is provided to stock medication containers ( 16 ). The rack ( 10 ) includes a base ( 12 ) and a perpendicular partition ( 14 ) that splits base ( 12 ) by the middle and into two sides. One tower ( 20 ) is provided at each diagonal end of base ( 12 ). A label ( 25 ) with indicia ( 26 ) and medication-related information ( 27 ) is provided on a face panel ( 21 ) of each tower ( 20 ). On both sides of base ( 12 ), a plurality of cavities ( 15 ) that match the shape of the bottom of medication containers ( 16 ) is provided for stocking medication containers ( 16 ). Accordingly, the medication containers ( 16 ) fit into cavities ( 15 ) within base ( 12 ), and are keyed into alignment so that a flat surface ( 28 ) of the medication containers ( 16 ) faces outwards of rack ( 10 ), and so that the flat surface ( 28 ) of medication containers ( 16 ) aligns with face panel ( 21 ) of the towers ( 20 ). A label ( 32 ) with indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) is attached to the flat surface ( 28 ) of medication containers ( 16 ). Indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) of medication containers ( 16 ) align and correspond with indicia ( 26 ) and medication-related information ( 27 ) of face panel ( 21 ) of the towers ( 20 ). Indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) of any medication container ( 16 ) will also align with the indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) of any other medication containers ( 16 ) that the user may necessitate for storing additional medications. Accordingly, the user will be able to observe medication-related information ( 27 ) of face panel ( 21 ) of tower ( 20 ) and continuously observe the corresponding medication-related information ( 29 ) of one medication container ( 16 ), or of several medication containers ( 16 ). For example, if the user notes on the medication-related information ( 27 ) of one of the towers ( 20 ), the designation MORNING, then the user will be able to continuously view the generally the tower panels that sustain the indicia and medication-related information of the present invention, medication containers ( 16 ) to search for the corresponding medication-related information ( 29 ), such as TAKE  1,  thereby noting those medications, and quantity thereof, that need be consumed by the user.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in patent files or records, butotherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to co-pending application METHOD AND RACKWITH MEDICATION-RELATED INFORMATION, filed on the same date as thepresent application, and naming Maria Lourdes Rivero as inventor, theapplication incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to the health care field, specifically to anapparatus and method for the purpose of facilitating a user's ability toassimilate medication-related information.

2. Description of Prior Art

Often times, users of medications struggle with the issue ofunderstanding how to take them properly. The elderly and those with lowliteracy, for example, can have problems assimilating themedication-related information that is included on medication labels.Therefore, a user may err in the process of consuming a medication, forexample, by taking an incorrect dose of medication, or taking it at theincorrect time of day.

Any such errors, or combination thereof, can cause serious healthconsequences for users. Accordingly, various inventions have beendeveloped to attempt to address the issue of proper medicationconsumption.

It is well known that conventional pill boxes are available in variousshapes and forms, through many drug stores. Additionally, modified pillboxes can provide an incremental degree of benefit.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,371 to Malpass shows a pill box with an inner coverand fill cavity for each type of medication, and time of day. Inpreparing the device for use, a pharmacist or other person will open theinner cover and fill each cavity with an example of the appropriatedosage of medication corresponding to the time of day during which themedication should be taken. Thus, at the start of each day, the patientor other person will pull the appropriate dose of daily medication outof conventional medication containers, and place it in correspondingcavities to match the example within the inner cover of Malpass' pillbox. Although Malpass' invention reduces the possibility of error in thecase of certain consistent medications, errors are still possiblebecause, depending on the manufacturer, the same medication may come indifferent shapes, colors, and sizes, particularly when dealing withgeneric prescription medications.

In general, there are significant disadvantages associated withcurrently available pill box art. The user of a currently available pillbox may be incapable of properly navigating the medication labels inorder to match the information on the labels with the information on thepill box. Thus, the user may be unable to stock the pill box. In thosecases, a pharmacist or other person must undertake the laborious, andtherefore relatively inefficient, process of stocking the medicationsinto the numerous compartments that most pillboxes have in common.Confusion and errors during the process of filling conventional pillboxes can lead to potentially serious consequences for patients.Importantly, it is well known that when patients are confused aboutmedications or when patients experience side effects due to errorsrelated to their medication intake, they are less likely to becompliant.

Conventional medication charts, which list the user's medications aswell as medication instructions, help to clarify what medications totake and what medications not to take, but are too abstract for certainusers, such as the elderly and those with low literacy. Moreover, amedication chart does nothing to organize the various medicationcontainers that a user may be employing.

Electronic apparatuses of various structures and functions have beendeveloped to address the issue of proper medication consumption.However, these apparatuses are relatively costly and necessitatemaintenance.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   -   (a) to provide an apparatus and method which will facilitate, in        other words help, a user's ability to assimilate        medication-related information, without the relatively high        level of labor that is necessitated to stock conventional        pillboxes, and    -   (b) to provide an apparatus and method which will facilitate a        user's ability to assimilate medication-related information,        without the possibility of confusion and consequential errors        that are associated with filling currently available pill boxes,        and    -   (c) to provide an apparatus and method which will facilitate a        user's ability to assimilate medication-related information, at        a reasonable level of cost, and    -   (d) to provide an apparatus and method which will facilitate a        user's ability to assimilate medication-related information,        without the confusion that is associated with medication charts.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent upon further studyof the balance of this application.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the preferred embodiment, a rack is provided to stockmedication containers. The rack includes two towers, and a base which issplit into two sides by a partition. One tower is provided at eachdiagonal end of the base. A label with indicia and medication-relatedinformation is provided on a face panel of each tower. On both sides ofthe base, a plurality of cavities that match the shape of the bottom ofa medication container are provided for stocking the medicationcontainers. Accordingly, the medication containers fit into the cavitieswithin the base of the rack, and are keyed into alignment so that a flatsurface of the medication containers faces outwards from the rack. Alabel with indicia and medication-related information is attached to theflat surface of the medication containers. The medication-relatedinformation on the labels of the medication containers aligns withcorresponding medication-related information on the face panel of thetowers. Accordingly, the user will be able to observe themedication-related information on a tower face panel and alsocontinuously observe the corresponding medication-related information ona medication container, or on several medication containers. Forexample, if the user notes on the medication-related information of thetower the designation MORNING, then the user will be able tocontinuously view the generally aligned and correspondingmedication-related information of one or more medication containers tosearch for the corresponding medication-related information, such asTAKE 1, thereby noting those medications, and quantity thereof, thatneed be consumed by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment showing amedication rack with towers, cavities, a medication container, and amarker.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment showing amedication rack with towers, medication container support, andmedication containers with plaques.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment showing amedication rack with towers, medication container support with a label,and medication containers with plaques.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment showing amedication rack with a medication container support, and medicationcontainers with plaques.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are elevation views of alternative embodiments showingmedication containers with plaques.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are elevation views of alternative embodiments showingmedication racks, and medication containers with plaques.

FIG. 7A is an elevation view of a medication container and acorresponding pillbox.

FIG. 7B is an isometric view of the corresponding pillbox.

FIG. 8A is an isometric view of an alternative medication container,showing interaction with a second identical alternative medicationcontainer.

FIG. 8B is a sectional view of the alternative medication container,showing interaction with the second identical alternative medicationcontainer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1 illustrates a rack 10which is preferably rectangular. Rack 10 includes a base 12. An integralperipheral edge 13 is about 10 mm. high, and supports base 12. The widthof base 12 preferably accommodates two rows of a plurality of cavities15. Cavities 15 are integral with base 12, are indented about 3 mm. fromedge 13, and are structured, in other words sized and shaped, to sustaina conventional medication container 16, and to level medicationcontainer 16 with a tower 20. Since conventional container 16 isgenerally square shaped, cavities 15 are, accordingly, generally squareshaped, and about 10 mm. deep. The length of base 12 preferablyaccommodates tower 20, and a single row of cavities 15, maximizing thenumber of cavities 15, thus enabling medication rack 10 to preferablyfit length-wise inside a standard kitchen top-cabinet. Therefore, rack10 will preferably include four or five cavities 15 per row. However,rack 10 can be designed to accommodate additional, as well as fewer,cavities 15, depending upon the medicinal needs of a user ofmedications. Base 12 includes two integral and perpendicular towers 20,located at diagonal ends of base 12. Towers 20 are rectangular, hollow,and about 5 mm. thick. For uniformity, the widths of towers 20 arepreferably equal to the width of a flat surface 28 of container 16.However, the widths of towers 20 can be designed to accommodate thewidth of medication-related information 27. The height of towers 20 isequal to the height of container 16, extending from an upper edge 11 offlat surface 28, to the bottom of container 16, minus the measure of thedepth of cavity 15. Towers 20 have a face panel 21 that is indentedabout 3 mm. from edge 13. The side 30 of tower 20 that is closest toedge 13 is indented from edge 13 a distance that matches the distancebetween two flat surfaces 28 of containers 16, measured when adjoiningcontainers 16 are pegged into cavities 15. The same distance separatesthe opposite side 31 of tower 20 from the flat surface 28 of container16, measured when container 16 is pegged in the adjoining cavity 15. Apreferably self-adhesive label 25, equal in size to face panel 21, isattached to at least one tower's 20 face panel 21. Label 25 willpreferably be made of coated paper, or any other durable material.Indicia 26 and medication-related information 27 are provided on label25, preferably imprinted, and generally level with label 25. Indicia 26and medication-related information 27 are arranged to generally alignand to correspond with indicia 33 and medication-related information 29of container 16. Indicia 26 include five horizontal spaces which arearranged vertically, preferably evenly divided within label 25: a space34, a space 35, a space 36, a space 37, and a space 38. Indicia 26 alsoinclude a band of a different color which covers each of the fourspaces. The preferred band colors covering the spaces are: white forspace 34, light blue for space 35, yellow for space 36, purplish-orangefor space 37, and grey or black for space 38. With the exception ofwhite in space 34, the specific colors are intended to approximate thenatural colors of each time period, for example, grey or black for anevening time period. Medication-related information 27 is containedwithin the five indicia 26 spaces; including a descriptive termpertaining to medication names, and four preferably standard time framessuch as: “MEDICATION” in space 34 (abbreviated on FIG. 1 as “MED.”, forclarity), “MORNING” in space 35 (“MOR.”), “NOON” in space 36, “EVENING”in space 37 (“EVE.”), and “NIGHT” in space 38 (“NIG.”). Rack 10 ispreferably hollow, and constructed of injection molded plastic, about 3mm. in thickness.

Referring again to FIG. 1, medication container 16 is preferablyconventional, of the four flat-side type. For efficiency, container 16is preferably comprised of a single size that is large enough to sustainany 30-day supply of pills. Container 16 includes a label 32, preferablyof conventional pharmacy grade. Container 16 also preferably includesanother separate conventional label with conventionalpharmacy/medication information, as conventionally done, or theconventional pharmacy/medication information can be included within alarger fold-around label 32. Like towers 20 and label 25, the height oflabel 32 is equal to the height of container 16, extending from an upperedge 11 of flat surface 28, to the bottom of container 16, minus themeasure of the depth of cavity 15. Label 32 is positioned on the flatsurface 28 of medication container 16, lined-up with three edges 39 ofthe flat surface 28 of container 16, starting from the upper edge 11.Indicia 33 and medication-related information 29 are provided on label32, preferably imprinted. Label 32 and imprinting related to indicia 33and medication-related information 29 are preferably of conventionalpharmacy grade. Label 32 of container 16 generally levels with label 25of towers 20 when medication container 16 is pegged into cavity 15.Indicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of medication container16 are arranged so that they generally align, and correspond withindicia 26 and medication-related information 27 of label 25 of towers20. Indicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of medicationcontainer 16 are, likewise, positioned so that they align with thecorresponding indicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of anyadditional medication containers 16 that the user may necessitate forstoring additional medications. Indicia 33 preferably include fivespaces: a space 41, a space 42, a space 43, a space 44, and a space 45,and each space is covered by a band of a different color. Spaces 41, 42,43, 44, and 45 are evenly divided within label 32, and generally alignwith spaces 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 of towers 20. The colors of thespaces of indicia 33 and indicia 26 which align also match. The fiveindicia 33 spaces of container 16 include medication-related information29 which is specific for each medication. For example, as depicted inFIG. 1, if a medication named “X” is to be taken by a user,medication-related information 29 “X” will be included in indicia 33space 41 of container 16, and the medication-related information 29 “X”and indicia 33 space 41 will align and correspond withmedication-related information 27 “MEDICATION” and indicia 26 space 34of tower 20. (For the purpose of the present invention, thatmedication-related information 27 “MEDICATION”, and medication-relatedinformation 29 “X” will “align”, or “generally align”, means that bothterms—“MEDICATION” and “X”—will be generally in line horizontally, sothat the user will be able to more easily follow and read both termshorizontally across tower 20 and container 16, therefore facilitatingthe user's ability to assimilate both terms as a united message; thatindicia 33 space 41 of container 16, and indicia 26 space 34 of tower 20will “align” means that both space 41 and space 34 will be generally inline horizontally, thus to help guide the user to be able to more easilyfollow and read medication-related information 27 “MEDICATION” andmedication-related information 29 “X” across tower 20 and container 16;that “X” will “correspond” to “MEDICATION” means that the two terms aresynergistically related, in other words, “MEDICATION” identifies “X” asa medication name, hence “MEDICATION X”; that indicia 33 space 41 ofcontainer 16 will “correspond” to indicia 26 space 34 of tower 20 meansthat both indicia are related by the intended order, in other words,container 16 includes five spaces that are intended to align with thefive spaces which are included in tower 20, and because space 41 is thefirst space of container 16, from the top down, then space 41corresponds to the first space of tower 20, from the top down, which isspace 34. Moreover, the terms “aligned”, and “generally aligned”, referto any level of alignment that facilitates an intended task of thepresent invention, such as the user viewing both terms, as describedabove, horizontally across tower 20 and container 16, and assimilatingboth terms as a united message). If the same medication “X” is to beconsumed only in the morning, in the form of a single pill, thenmedication-related information 29 of medication container 16 whichcontains medication “X” will include the medication-related information29 “TAKE 1” (abbreviated on FIG. 1 as “TAK. 1”, for clarity) in space42, which will align and correspond with space 35 of label 25 of towers20. Space 35 of towers 20 will include the medication-relatedinformation 27 “MORNING”, aligning and corresponding to “TAKE 1” inspace 42 of container 16. Thus, the medication-related information 29 ofspaces 43, 44, and 45 of container 16 of medication “X”, whichcorresponds with the medication-related 27 of spaces 36, 37, and 38respectively, of tower 20, will preferably be blank, since no pills areto be taken during these time frames.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in situations wherein non-pill medicationssuch as ointments, drops, and inhalers are to be consumed by aparticular user, a marker 14 can be employed, particularly in thosesituations wherein the non-pill medications cannot be physicallycontained within container 16 because of size constraints. For example,marker 14 refers a user to apply two drops (“2 DRO.”) of a dropmedication named “A”, as noted on space 43 of label 32. Marker 14includes a bottom area 17 which matches the bottom area of container 16,thus marker 14 can be pegged into cavities 15 in the same manner ascontainer 16, and marker 14 is interchangeable with container 16. Marker14 also includes a frontal face panel 18 which is perpendicular withbottom 17. The height of frontal face panel 18 is equal to the height ofcontainer 16, extending from the bottom of container 16 to an upper edge11 of flat surface 28. Marker 14 matches the width of flat surface 28 ofcontainer 16. Label 32, including indicia 33 and medication-relatedinformation 29, is attached to marker 14 in the same manner as container16. Also extending from bottom 17 are a rear face panel 19, and two sidewalls 22. Rear face panel 19 tapers to join frontal face panel 18. Thetwo walls 22 join rear face panel 19 and frontal face panel 18. Marker14 is preferably made of out hollow injection molded plastic.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment. A medication rack 47 hasthe same structure as medication rack 10, with the exception that a base48 of medication rack 47 does not have cavities 15 to sustain aconventional medication container 50. Instead, rack 47 has a support 49on both sides of base 48 to sustain medication containers 50.Additionally, a tower 51 has the same structure as tower 20, except thattower 51 is about 10 mm. higher that the height of container 50,measured from the neck of container 50 downwards. For uniformity, thewidths of towers 51 are preferably equal to the width of a plaque 52.However, the widths of towers 51 can be designed to specificallyaccommodate the width of medication-related information 27. Label 25 isaligned with the top edge 23 of tower 51. Supports 49 are preferablyflat panels, about 5 mm. thick, which are perpendicular, level, andintegral with base 48, and extend continuously lengthwise from edge 13of base 48 to meet tower 51. Supports 49 are indented about 8 mm. fromedge 13. The height of supports 49 will match the height of towers 51.The matching heights of supports 49 and towers 51 will enable indicia 33and medication-related information 29 of medication container 50 tobecome generally level with the aligned and corresponding indicia 26 andmedication-related information 27 of tower 51, when medication container50 is rested on support 49. The level support 49 will enable the indicia33 and medication-related information 29 of medication container 50 tobecome generally level with the aligned and corresponding indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29 of any additional medicationcontainers 50 that are rested on support 49. The height of supports 49,and of towers 51, will also be sufficient so that when medicationcontainer 50 is rested on support 49, the bottom of medication container50 will not make contact with base 48, leaving a clearance. Accordingly,base 48 will not interfere with the leveling of containers 50. Label 25,with indicia 26 and medication-related information 27, is size adjustedfor accommodating onto tower 51, and is aligned with a top edge 23 oftower 51.

Again, in reference to FIG. 2, medication container 50 is preferablyconventional, of the rounded type, and has an attached plaque 52. Plaque52 is preferably generally flat. For space efficiency, the width ofplaque 52 is preferably equal to the diameter of container 50, plus twotimes the thickness of a ring 53. However, the width of plaque 52 can bedesigned to accommodate the width of medication-related information 29.The height of plaque 52 is about 10 mm. smaller than the height ofcontainer 50, measured from the neck down. However, the height of plaque52 can be designed to accommodate the height of medication-relatedinformation 29. Plaque 52 is hollow, and about 5 mm. thick. An arm 54extends from the top-center 58 of plaque 52, and connects plaque 52 toring 53. Arm 54 is about 5 mm. square, and extends about 5 mm. from aface 46 of plaque 52 to ring 53. Ring 53 is perpendicular to plaque 52,and has a thickness of about 5 mm. square. Ring 53 is structured toslip-on to conventional container 50, preferably retained on container50 by pressure, and to sustain plaque 52 at a distance from medicationcontainer 50 that will accommodate the width of support 49, whencontainer 50 is rested on support 49. Ring 53 is also structured sothat, as it is being slipped-on to container 50, it stops when it abutsthe neck of container 50. Plaque 52, arm 54, and ring 53 are preferablyintegral, and made of clear injection molded plastic. Attached to plaque52 is label 32 with indicia 33 and medication-related information 29,size adjusted for accommodating onto plaque 52. A conventional label 40,including general pharmacy/medication information, is preferablypositioned on the area of container 50 that is not obstructed by plaque52.

FIG. 3 illustrates another alternative embodiment. A medication rack 55has the same structure as medication rack 47, with the exception that alabel 56 with indicia 57 and medication-related information 27 replaceslabel 25 of tower 51. Label 56, including indicia 57, extends fromoutermost end of tower 51, throughout the full length of support 49, andis aligned with the top edge 23 of tower 51. With the exception oflength, label 56, including indicia 57 and medication-relatedinformation 27, is similar to label 25, including indicia 26 andmedication-related information 27.

FIG. 4 illustrates another alternative embodiment. A medication rack 59has the same structure as medication rack 47, with the exception thatmedication rack 59 does not have towers 51. Additionally, a support 60extends, lengthwise, continuously from edge 13 to edge 13, on both sidesof base 48. With the exception of length, support 60 has the samestructure as support 49.

FIG. 5A illustrates another alternative embodiment. Conventionalmedication containers 50 include plaque 52. Attached to plaques 52 islabel 32, including indicia 65 and medication-related information 66.Integral with plaque 52 is a ring 67 which is attached to plaque 52,just above the top center 58 of plaque 52, and reaching the face 46 ofplaque 52. Ring 67 has a thickness of about 5 mm. square, and includes aseparation which measures about 3 mm. at the opposite end of where ring67 attaches to plaque 52. Ring 67 is structured to slip-on toconventional container 50, preferably retained by pressure. Theseparation of ring 67 enables ring 67 to expand and contract, so thatplaque 52 can be adjusted up or down along medication container 50, sothat medication-related information 66 can be generally leveled with thecorresponding and aligned medication-related information 66 of anyadditional medication containers 50 that the user may necessitate forstoring additional medications, when medication containers 50 arepreferably placed on a flat surface. Indicia 65 include clear whitespace, which covers all of label 32. Medication-related information 66preferably includes four standard medication time frames, such as: a“BREAKFAST” space 68, a “LUNCH” space 69, a “DINNER” space 70, and a“BEDTIME” space 71. Immediately following each time frame is additionalmedication-related information 66, as applicable, depicting the quantityof medication that is to be taken during that corresponding time frame,such as for example: “TAKE 1”.

FIG. 5B illustrates another alternative embodiment. Conventionalmedication container 50 includes a plaque 93 which is similar to plaque52, except that plaque 93 is smaller. A ring 73 is integrally attachedto plaque 93. Ring 73 is similar to ring 67, with the exception thatring 73 excludes the 3 mm. separation at the opposite end of where ring67 attaches to plaque 52. Indicia 95 and medication-related information96 are imprinted directly onto plaque 93. Medication-related information96 may include a blank space, indicating that no medication should beconsumed, or a worded indication to either consume or not to consume aparticular medication. Indicia 95 includes preferably a space 97, and aspace 98, representing medications that are to be consumed twice perday. Additionally, indicia 95 include a black line separating spaces 97and 98, and a grey background imprinted on space 98. Indicia 95 andmedication-related information 96 of conventional medication container50 are arranged to generally align and correspond with indicia 95 andmedication-related information 96 of any additional medicationcontainers 50 that the user may necessitate. The conventional medicationcontainers 50 of FIG. 5B are comprised of different sizes.

FIG. 6A illustrates another alternative embodiment. Conventionalmedication container 50 includes plaque 52 and ring 73. Attached toplaque 52 is label 32, including indicia 75 and medication-relatedinformation 76. Indicia 75 preferably include five equal yellow spaces,separated by black lines. A space 77 will depict the actual name of themedication. The following four spaces are: a space 78, a space 79, aspace 80, and a space 81, depicting medication-related information 76including, as applicable to each specific medication, the quantity ofmedication that is to be taken during a given time frame, and a generaldescription of the medication, such as for example, “1 CAPSULE”, whichis portrayed on space 79.

Referring again to FIG. 6A, a rack 82 is similar to rack 10, with theexception that rack 82 has a base 83 with a single cavity 74, and onesingle tower 20. Cavity 74 is similar to cavity 15, with the exceptionthat cavity 74 is structured to accommodate container 50. Tower 20includes label 25 with indicia 84 and medication-related information 85.Indicia 84 include yellow space, which covers all of label 25.Medication-related information 85 is arranged to align and correspondwith medication-related information 76 of container 50. The firstmedication-related information 85 in a space 86 is “MEDICINE NAME”,corresponding to the actual medication name which will be included inspace 77 of container 50, such as, for example, a medication named“ABC”. The following four spaces include four standard medication timeframes, such as: a “MORNING” space 87, a “NOON” space 88, an “EVENING”space 89, and a “NIGHT” space 90.

FIG. 6B illustrates another alternative embodiment. A tower 101 issimilar to tower 20 except that tower 101 does not rest on base 12.Instead, tower 101 rests on an integral base 99 which has the samedimensions as tower 101, and forms an upside-down “T” with tower 101.Imprinted onto tower 101 are indicia 26 and medication-relatedinformation 102. Medication-related information 102, such as “BREAKFAST”on a space 103, “DINNER” on a space 104, “TAKE WITH FOOD” on a space105, and “PRESCRIBER” on a space 106, is provided on tower 101.Medication-related information 107 and indicia 33 are imprinted onplaque 52. Medication-related information 107, such as “TAKE” on a space108, a blank area on a space 109, “YES” on a space 110, and “DR. DOE” ona space 111, is provided on container 50. Medication-related information107 and indicia 33 of container 50 are arranged to align and correspondwith medication-related information 102 and indicia 26 of tower 101.Plaque 52 can be adjusted up or down container 50 through ring 67, togenerally level medication-related information 107 and indicia 33 ofcontainer 50 with medication-related information 102 and indicia 26 oftower 101.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a corresponding pill box 114, for use alongwith the racks and medication containers of the present invention. Pillbox 114 is conventional in structure, and preferably includes only twomedication cavities. Two caps, one for each of the two cavities of pillbox 114, are sized to accommodate imprinted indicia 115 andmedication-related information 116. Indicia 115 and medication-relatedinformation 116 correspond with indicia 117 and medication-relatedinformation 118 of container 50. Indicia 115 preferably include a doubleline 119, comprised of the adjoining physical edges of the two caps ofpill box 114. Indicia 115 and medication-related information 116 aresimilar to indicia 26 and medication-related information 27 of tower 20.Indicia 115 and medication-related information 116 align and correspondwith indicia 117 and medication-related information 118 of conventionalmedication container 50, when leveled. Medication-related information116 of a first cap includes “NOON” in a space 120. Medication-relatedinformation 116 of a second cap includes “EVENING” in a space 121.Medication-related information 118 of container 50 of a medication named“E” include “BREAKFAST” in a space 122, “NOON-TAKE 1” in a space 123,“EVENING” in a space 124, and “BEDTIME” in a space 125. The “NOON” ofspace 120 of the first cap corresponds with the “NOON-TAKE 1” space 123of container 50, and the “EVENING” space 121 of the second capcorresponds with the “EVENING” space 124 of container 50. Indicia 117and medication-related information 118 are similar to indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate alternative container 130. Custom-madecontainer 130 is similar to conventional container 16, except thatcontainer 130 excludes at least two of the rounded corners which arecommon in conventional containers 16. Instead, container 130 includesgenerally sharp corners 132 which are integral with at least apreferably generally flat front panel 134. Two side panels 136 which aregenerally perpendicular to front panel 134, and integral with sharpcorners 132, are generally flat. The generally sharp corners 132 enablethe medication-related information 29 and indicia 33, of a plurality ofcontainers 130, to either touch or to be very close together whencontainers 130 are placed next to each other. Likewise, the generallyflat side panels 136 enable the medication-related information 29 andindicia 33, of a plurality of containers 130, to either touch or to bevery close together when containers 130 are placed next to each other.This makes it easier for the user to be able to view themedication-related information 29 and indicia 33 horizontally acrossfrom one container 130 to another container 130. Container 130preferably also includes a sharp top edge 133. Top edge 133 is intendedto aid the pharmacist or other person to more easily position label 32on container 130, when attaching label 32 to container 130. The degreeof sharpness of corners 132, and edge 133 will preferably balance thesafety and comfort of the persons who will manually handle container130, with the intended purpose of corners 132, and edge 133. Container130 is more effective than container 16. However, container 130 is morecostly to implement because it is custom-made.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

According to the preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, the mannerof using the present invention includes filling container 16 with amedication, or medications. Medication container 16 may be filled withmedication and labeled with indicia 33 and medication-relatedinformation 29 by a pharmacist or other person at a retail location,such as a pharmacy. Medication container 16 may alternatively be filledwith medication and labeled at any other point of distribution, such asat a medication manufacturer's facilities. In the case of themanufacturer's facilities, the manufacturing process will fill thecontainer. The manufacturer will also generate and place generalmedication information on a label, and attach that label to medicationcontainer 16. Subsequently, a pharmacist or other person at a retaillocation, or similar, will generate and attach label 32, includingindicia 33 and medication-related information 29, to one of the flatsurfaces 28 of medication container 16. Label 32 will be positioned onthe flat surface 28 of medication container 16, lined-up with threeedges 39 of the flat surface 28 of container 16, starting from the upperedge 11. In the case wherein the pharmacist or other person fills themedication container 16, the pharmacist or other person will preferablygenerate and place label 32 on medication container 16 in the samemanner, and also generate and attach preferably another separateconventional label with conventional pharmacy/medication information, asconventionally done. In accordance with the above, any additionalmedication containers 16 that need to be filled with medications inorder to accommodate any additional medication needs of the patient,will also be filled and labeled. By lining-up label 32 with the edges 39of medication container 16, starting from the upper edge 11, label 32will be generally level with label 25 of tower 20, when container 16 ispegged into cavity 15. Accordingly, label 32 of container 16 will alsobe level with the label 32 of any additional containers 16 that the usermay necessitate for any additional medication needs. The pharmacist orother person will position and arrange medication-related information 29and indicia 33 so that they align and correspond with indicia 26 andmedication-related information 27 of label 25 of towers 20, and so thatmedication-related information 29 and indicia 33 also generally alignswith the corresponding medication-related information 29 and indicia 33of any additional containers 16 that the user may necessitate.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the pharmacist or other person may choose toemploy marker 14 when container 16 cannot sustain a particularmedication because of a constraint, such as size. For example, in asituation wherein a particular user requires use of a drop medication,and the bottle which contains the medication does not fit into container16, the pharmacist may employ marker 14 by attaching label 32, with theindicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of the particulardrops, to marker 14. Accordingly, the user will notice label 32 ofmarker 14 and will therefore be prompted to apply the drops, even thoughthe drops will not be stored within rack 10, in a manner similar to theconsumption of medication from container 16. Marker 14 will prompt theuser to seek and to obtain the drops from their storage location, andthen to apply the drops. The pharmacist or other person may furtherchoose to attach another label with additional clarifying informationonto the rear face panel 19 of marker 14.

In reference to medication rack 10 as depicted in FIG. 1, label 25,including indicia 26 and medication-related information 27, ispreferably attached to face panels 21 of towers 20 by the manufacturerof medication rack 10. Alternatively, a pharmacist or other person willattach label 25 to rack 10. The person attaching label 25 to rack 10 maychoose to attach label 25 to only one tower's 20 face panel 21. And insituations wherein the user is consuming more medications than thenumber of containers 16 that can be pegged into one single row ofcavities 15, label 25 will be attached to both tower's 20 face panels21, so that both rows of cavities 15 can be employed. The pharmacist orother person will then preferably peg medication containers 16 intocavities 15 of medication rack 10. Thus, indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29 of medication container 16 will begenerally level with the corresponding and generally aligned indicia 26and medication-related information 27 of label 25 of tower 20, andindicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of medical container 16will also be generally level with the corresponding and generallyaligned indicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of anyadditional medication containers 16 that are pegged into cavities 15,resulting from the user's need for consuming a plurality of medications.

Subsequently, the user of the preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG.1, will preferably first look vertically at the vertically arrangedmedication-related information 27 of one of the two towers 20, of one ofthe two sides of rack 10, noting and choosing the time frame for whichhe/she will consume his/her medication or medications. The user willthen be able to view continuously, horizontally from left to right,medication-related information 27 of one tower 20 and also the generallyaligned and corresponding medication-related information 29 ofmedication container 16, as well as the generally aligned andcorresponding medication-related information 29 of any additionalmedication containers 16 that are also pegged into cavities 15. The userwill be able to repeat the same steps on the other side of rack 10, ifthere are containers 16 pegged on that side. For example, if a user isto consume his/her morning medication or medications, the user willobserve the “MORNING” space 35 of medication-related information 27 oflabel 25 of tower 20. Then the user will be able to continuously view,the generally aligned indicia 33 and medication-related information 29on space 42 of label 32 of all of his/her medication containers 16 tospecifically select those medications that should be consumed in themorning, also noting the quantity of medication that is to be taken.Accordingly, if the user notes in space 42 of medication-relatedinformation 29 of a medication “X” contained in one medication container16, the designation “TAKE 1”, then the user will know to take one doseof that particular medication as part of his/her morning consumption ofmedication because space 42 is aligned and corresponds with space 35medication-related information 27 “MORNING” of tower 20. The user willbe able to do the same for his/her noon medications, eveningmedications, and night medications. Accordingly, the user's ability toassimilate the medication-related information of the present inventionwill be facilitated. Therefore, the user will be able to take his/hermedications without the confusion that is associated with fillingconventional pill boxes, or employing medication charts. The presentinvention also eliminates the cost associated with sophisticatedelectronic apparatuses.

In addition to facilitating a user's ability to assimilatemedication-related information, stocking medication containers 16 intorack 10 also provides a degree of organization for the user.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment. Conventional medicationcontainer 50 is filled with medication in the same manner as medicationcontainer 16. The general medication information label is attached toconventional medication container 50 in the same manner in which it isattached to medication container 16. However, before the conventionalmedication label is attached, a pharmacist or other person will slipring 53, with plaque 52, onto medication container 50, preferablypushing ring 53 until ring 53 abuts the neck of container 50, attachingring 53 to container 50 preferably by pressure. Label 32, includingindicia 33 and medication-related information 29 is attached to plaque52 in the same manner in which it is attached to the flat surface 28 ofmedication container 16. Attaching label 32 to plaque 52 enables theuser to view continuously the generally aligned and correspondingmedication-related information 29 of a plurality of medicationcontainers 50, over the generally flat and therefore more viewablesurface of plaque 52, than if label 32 were attached to the circularsurface of conventional medication container 50. Ring 53 is preferablyblocked from slipping out of container 50 by the thickness of theattached general medication information label.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the operation of medication rack 47 issimilar to the operation of medication rack 10, with the exception thatmedication rack 47 does not have cavities 15 to sustain medicationcontainer 50. Instead, the pharmacist or other person will placemedication container 50 onto support 49. Ring 53 will rest on support49, as support 49 is sandwiched between plaque 52 and conventionalcontainer 50. The pharmacist, or other person, will preferably placemedication container 50 in close proximity to tower 20 so that it willbe easier for the user to view indicia 26 and medication-relatedinformation 27 of tower 20, and to continuously view indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29 of container 50. The pharmacist, orother person, will also preferably place any additional medicationcontainers 50 that the user may necessitate for storing additionalmedications in close proximity to medication container 50 so that itwill be easier for the user to also continuously view indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29 of a plurality of medicationcontainers 50. Because the contact made between arm 54 and support 49provides general leveling between indicia 26 and medication-relatedinformation 27 of towers 20, and indicia 33 and medication-relatedinformation 29 of containers 50, and because the bottoms of medicationcontainers 50 do not make contact with base 48 of medication rack 47,the general leveling will materialize even if some containers 50 areshorter than others.

FIG. 3 illustrates another alternative embodiment. The operation ofmedication rack 55 is similar to the operation of medication rack 47,with the exception that there is no need to place medication container50 in close proximity to tower 51, or to place medication containers 50close to one another. Plaque 52 of container 50, including label 32,will closely overlap and generally level with label 56 of support 49when container 50 is rested on support 49. Accordingly, the user will beable to view indicia 57 and medication-related information 27 of tower20 and continuously view the generally aligned and corresponding indicia33 and medication-related information 29 of container 50, as well as thealigned and corresponding indicia 33 and medication-related information29 of any additional medication containers 50 that the user maynecessitate for storing additional medications, even if the containers50 are not placed close to each other, or close to tower 20.

The operation of medication rack 59, as illustrated in FIG. 4, issimilar to the operation of rack 47, except that there are no towers 20to place medication container 50 close to. The pharmacist or otherperson will place medication container 50 onto support 60, preferablyplacing container 50 and any additional containers 50 that may benecessitated all in close proximity to each other. Accordingly, the userwill be able to continuously observe the generally aligned correspondingindicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of a plurality ofmedication containers 50. Once communication is given to a user by apharmacist or other person, and the user understands and memorizes that,when observing indicia 33 and medication-related information 29 ofcontainer 50, space 42 pertains to morning, space 43 pertains to noon,space 44 pertains to evening, and space 45 pertains to night, then theuser will be able to view continuously, preferably from left to right(although the user may also view from right to left), the aligned andcorresponding indicia 33 and medication-related information 29 of aplurality of medication containers 50 to properly select a medication,or medications. For example, if a user is to consume his/her morningmedication or medications, the user will observe, horizontally across,the space 42 of all of his/her medications to specifically select thosemedications that should be consumed in the morning, also noting thequantity of medication that is required. To further clarify, if the usernotes in space 42 of medication-related information 29 of label 32 of acontainer 50 filled with medication “X”, the medication-relatedinformation 29 “TAKE 1”, then the user will know to take one dose ofthat particular medication as part of his/her morning consumption ofmedication. The user will be able to do the same for his/her noonmedications, evening, and night medications.

FIG. 5A illustrates another alternative embodiment. Conventionalmedication container 50 is filled with medication in the same manner asmedication container 16. A pharmacist or other person will slip ring 67with plaque 52 onto medication container 50, attaching ring 67 tocontainer 50, preferably by pressure. Label 32, including indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29 will be attached to plaque 52 in thesame manner in which it is attached to flat surface 28 of medicationcontainer 16. The pharmacist or other person will adjust ring 67 oncontainers 50, sliding it up or down containers 50, and on any othercontainers 50 that the user may necessitate to store additionalmedications, so that the generally aligned and correspondingmedication-related information 29 of plaque 52 of all of the user'smedication containers 50 will be level with each other when medicationcontainers 50 are placed on a flat surface, next to each other. Thegeneral medication information label will be attached to conventionalmedication container 50 in the same manner in which it is attached tomedication container 16. The general medication label will preferablyblock ring 67 from slipping out of container 50.

Referring again to FIG. 5A, the user of medication container 50 willplace medication containers 50 on a relatively flat surface, next toeach other. The indicia 65 clear white space will provide clarity, thus,helping to guide the user to be able to view indicia 65 andmedication-related information 66 of medication container 50, as well asthe aligned and corresponding indicia 65 and medication-relatedinformation 66 of any additional medication containers 50 that the usermay necessitate for storing additional medications. For example, if auser is to consume his/her breakfast-time medication or medications, theuser will observe the “BREAKFAST” space 68 of medication-relatedinformation 66 of label 32, which will include the quantity ofmedication that is to be taken. Then the user will be able tocontinuously observe the aligned and corresponding “BREAKFAST” space 68of medication-related information 66 of label 32 of all his/hermedication containers 50, to specifically select those medications thatshould be administered during breakfast-time. To further clarify, if theuser notes in space 68 of medication-related information 66 of amedication “X” stored in container 50, the medication-relatedinformation 66 “BREAKFAST-TAKE 1”, then the user will know to take onedose of that particular medication as part of his/her breakfast-timeconsumption of medication. The user will be able to do the same forhis/her lunch medications, dinner, and bedtime medications.

FIG. 5B illustrates another alternative embodiment. The operation ofthis conventional medication container 50 commences in a manner that issimilar to the operation of conventional medication container 50 of FIG.5A, except that in this alternative embodiment, medication containers 50are comprised of a plurality of sizes. Moreover, ring 73 is notadjustable. Accordingly, the user must self-level the generally alignedindicia 95 and medication-related information 96 of medication container50 with the generally aligned and corresponding indicia 95 andmedication-related information 96 of any additional medicationcontainers 50 that the user may necessitate. The user may consummatethis leveling by manually holding two containers 50, one in each handand next to each other, and adjusting them accordingly. Once the userhas consummated the alignment, the operation of this container 50becomes similar to the operation of the container 50 of FIG. 4, exceptthat plaque 93 is smaller and will only contain space 97, and space 98,indicative of medications that are consumed twice per day.

FIG. 6A illustrates another alternative embodiment. The operation ofthis conventional medication container 50 is similar to the operation ofthe conventional medication container 50 of FIG. 5A, except that in thisalternative embodiment, medication container 50 is placed into a singlecavity 74 of rack 82. Also, a pharmacist or other person will arrangemedication-related information 85 of tower 20 (by employing a computerand printer, or similar) to align with the correspondingmediation-related information 76 of container 50. Especially sincecontainer 50 is round, the pharmacist or other person also needs to takecare that container 50 is pegged into cavity 74 with plaque 52 facing inthe same direction as tower 20, so that labels 32 and 25 can be viewedby the user continuously. The user of rack 82 will be able to use it ina similar manner as rack 10, except that the user will be unable tosimultaneously to stock a plurality of medication containers 50 intorack 82. Accordingly, the user can interchange a plurality of containers50 with different medications in and out of rack 82, as needed.

FIG. 6B illustrates another alternative embodiment. A pharmacist orother person will arrange medication-related information 107 and indicia33 of container 50 to align and correspond with medication-relatedinformation 102 and indicia 26 of tower 101. The operation of thismedication container 50 is similar to the operation of medicationcontainer 50 of FIG. 5A. A key exception is that although space 108includes “TAKE”, it excludes the dosage, or quantity, such as “1”.Therefore, the user must either know the dosage, or note the dosage byviewing the general medication information label. The operation of tower101 is similar to the operation of tower 20, except that tower 101 doesnot rest on base 12. Tower 101 will preferably be placed on a flatsurface by the user. Next to tower 101, the user will place container50, and the user will also place next to container 50 any additionalcontainers 50 that the user may necessitate for additional medications,thus substantially leveling indicia 33 and medication-relatedinformation 107 of containers 50 with the generally aligned andcorresponding indicia 26 and medication-related information 102 of tower101.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate corresponding pill box 114, for use alongwith the racks and medication containers of the present invention. Theuser of corresponding pill box 114 will preferably consume the morningdose prior to leaving home. The user will also preferably consume thenight dose at home, since it is generally taken prior to going to sleep.Because the noon dose is generally consumed at about lunchtime, and theevening dose is generally consumed at about dinnertime, the user may beout of the home during those time frames. Therefore, the user may chooseto employ pill box 114 due to the convenience of portability, as aresult of the smaller size of pill box 114 versus rack 10 or containers50. The process of filling pill box 114 will be made simpler, incomparison to conventional pill boxes, because the user or other personwill fill pill box 114 by employing the corresponding indicia andmedication-related information of the present invention. Therefore, theconfusion that is associated with filling conventional pill boxes willbe reduced. The preferred way for the user to consummate the fillingprocess is by, firstly, manually holding pill box 114 and opening thefirst cap of the “NOON” space 120. Secondly, the user will preferablyrefer to rack 10 to view the “NOON” space 36 of column 20, and tocontinuously view all of the containers 16 on rack 10, selecting thosecontainers that indicate a dosing requirement for the noon time period,preferably one-by-one and then replacing each removed container 16 intothe rack 10 before the next one is taken out. Accordingly, the user willremove the required dose of medications from each container 16, anddeposit the noon medications in the noon cavity of pill box 114, asdepicted by “NOON” space 120, then closing the cap until noontime use.The user will repeat the process for the evening medications. Thus, theprocess of filling pill box 114 will represent less confusion incomparison to conventional pill boxes.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the operation of alternative, custom-madecontainer 130. The operation of container 130 is similar to that ofconventional container 16. However, from the standpoint of thepharmacist or other person who will generate and attach label 32,including indicia 33 and medication-related information 29, to the frontpanel 134 of medication container 130, the task of attaching label 32will be easier because the sharp corners 132, and sharp top edge 133will better guide the pharmacist to position label 32 on container 130,versus the rounded corners of conventional container 16. From thestandpoint of the user, container 130 is easier to employ versuscontainer 16 because the sharp corners 132 make it easier for the userto be able to view the medication-related information 29 and indicia 33horizontally across from one container 130 to another container 130.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

Thus, the reader will note that the apparatus and method of the presentinvention will enhance, over the prior art, the user's ability toassimilate medication-related information. And because the racks of thepresent invention are preferably simple in structure and are preferablyconstructed of injection molded plastic, the cost involved in productionis relatively low. Additionally, the size and manner of production ofthe medication racks of the present invention make them efficient andeffective for distribution at any point wherein medications aredistributed to users, such as a pharmacy.

While the above description contains much specificity, these should notbe construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather asexemplifications of one preferred embodiment and various alternativeembodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For example,variations of the medication racks of the present invention can becomprised of any combination of different sizes, materials, and shapes.Within the scope of the present invention, racks are included whichrequire only the part, or parts, which are necessitated for the purposeof leveling the aligned and corresponding indicia and medication-relatedinformation of the present invention of any indicia/medication-relatedinformation bearing members of the present invention, such as container50. For example, rack 59 can be exclusively comprised of support 60, byperpendicularly attaching support 60 to a base that sustains support 60.This example of rack 59 would enable the aligned and correspondingindicia 33 and medication-related information 27 of at least twocontainers 50 to become level. Likewise, medication rack 10 can beexclusively comprised of base 12 with the plurality of cavities 15,which are integral with base 12.

Within the scope of the present invention, towers are included whichrequire only enough structure to sustain the indicia andmedication-related information of the present invention, and to level,or support the leveling of, the indicia and medication-relatedinformation of the present invention. Accordingly, a tower of thepresent invention can be exclusively comprised of a generally flatpanel, sized to sustain the indicia and medication-related informationof the present invention, and an integral stand to support the generallyflat panel, in a generally perpendicular orientation, when the panelwith the stand is placed on a flat surface, such as a table top. Thetowers of the present invention may include any combination of themedication-related information and indicia of the present invention.

The indicia of the present invention includes any form of graphics forthe purpose of helping to guide the user to view the medication-relatedinformation of an indicia/medication-related information bearing memberof the present invention, and to continuously view the aligned andcorresponding medication-related information of at least one otherindicia/medication-related information bearing member of the presentinvention. The indicia of the present invention may include, forexample, lines, colored bands, colored space, clear space, and iconssuch as arrows. Wherein the indicia include colored bands, for example,as depicted in the preferred embodiment, the indicia generally alignbetween indicia/medication-related information bearing members of thepresent invention, such as two medication containers 50, because thecolored bands are alignable. Wherein the indicia of one, or both, of twoindicia/medication-related information bearing members are comprised of,for example, only open or blank pace, as noted in FIG. 5A, the indiciais not alignable. The indicia do not have to match betweenindicia/medication-related information bearing members. For example, theindicia 84 of rack 82 on FIG. 5B excludes the black lines of indicia 75of container 50, therefore the indicia do not match. The indicia can beportrayed on various mediums, employing any reproduction method. Forexample, the indicia can be imprinted on any size and type of label,which then attaches to any indicia/medication-related informationbearing member, such as container 16 or tower 20, or the indicia can beimprinted directly onto the indicia/medication-related informationbearing member. Also, the indicia can be portrayed electronically. Forexample, a medication container, or containers, can include any of theindicia and medication-related information of the present inventionencoded within an attached radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, orsimilar. Within this application, for example, the container with theRFID encoded medication-related information 29 and indicia 33 willconnect electronically to, and read-out within, an LCD screen, by way ofa wired medication rack 10. Once connected, the medication-relatedinformation 29 and indicia 33 will automatically level withmedication-related information 27 and indicia 26 that appears within theLCD screen. Moreover, the indicia and medication-related information ofthe present invention does not have to be directly attached to anindicia/medication-related information bearing member. To describe onesuch possible variation, instead of attaching plaque 52 to medicationcontainer 50, plaque 52 with label 32, including indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29 can be directly attached to rack 59,close to edge 13, and perpendicular to base 61. Therefore, eachpreferably conventional medication container would be positioned on rack59, on the space right behind the plaque 52 that it pertains to. Forexample, if a user takes two medications, a medication “G”, and amedication “H”, rack 59 will include two plaques 52. Each of the twoplaques 52 will include label 32, including indicia 33 andmedication-related information 29. A first plaque 52 will includeindicia 33 and medication-related information 29 pertaining tomedication “G”. A second plaque 52 will include indicia 33 andmedication-related information 27 pertaining to medication “H”. Thepharmacist or other person will place the container 50 of medication “G”on rack 59, directly behind the first plaque 52. The container 50 ofmedication “H” will be placed on rack 59, directly behind the secondplaque 52. This option is not preferred because once the containers 50are pulled by the user from rack 59 to consume the contained medication,the user may then confuse which container 50 to return behind whichplaque 52. The indicia and medication-related information of the presentinvention can be portrayed on any type of container, encompassing anyshape or form, with a generally flat surface, or a rounded surface, forexample. However, portraying the indicia and medication-relatedinformation of the present invention on a surface which is not generallyflat is not preferred because it is easier for the user to viewhorizontally, across the indicia and medication-related information ofthe present invention, of at least two indicia/medication relatedinformation bearing members, over a generally flat surface, such ascontainer 130 front panel 134. Indicia 33, as well as all other indiciarelated to the present invention, and medication-related information 29,as well as all other medication-related information associated with thepresent invention, can be portrayed onto any indicia/medication-relatedinformation-bearing member, by a pharmacist or other person, at anypoint throughout the various distribution channels of medications, suchas at a pharmacy.

Like the indicia of the current invention, the medication-relatedinformation of the current invention can be portrayed using variousmediums and reproduction methods. The medication-related information ofthe present invention includes any information that is useful for thepurpose of supporting the consumption of medications. This informationcan be directly or indirectly related to the medication. Accordingly,this information can include, for example, any information relating tothe medication package insert, including dosing, side effects, andcontraindications. This information can also include any data regarding,for example, the prescribing doctor, such as the doctor's name and phonenumber, information regarding the pharmacy, or similar, and anycombination thereof. The medication-related information of the presentinvention such as “BREAKFAST” corresponds with medication-relatedinformation of the present invention such as “TAKE 1”, for example, whenthe two appear separately on different indicia/medication-relatedinformation bearing members, because the user can view both, “BREAKFAST”and “TAKE 1”, continuously. Therefore, the user's ability to assimilateboth as a useable message will be facilitated. Referring to FIG. 5A,“BREAKFAST-TAKE 1” of one of the containers 50 corresponds with“BREAKFAST” of the other container 50 because they are both related inthat the user will be able view both continuously to determine whatmedications, of the two, to take during breakfast. In addition to thecorresponding medication-related information, theindicia/medication-related information bearing members of the presentinvention can also include, within the general area of the correspondingmedication-related information, such as within label 32 of container 16,any additional form of information that does not correspond betweenindicia/medication-related information bearing members. For example,container 16 of FIG. 1 can include additional information such as thename of a dispensing pharmacy, such as “JONE'S PHARMACY”, above space42, in which case tower 20 would not include correspondingmedication-related information 27, such as “PHARMACY NAME” above space35. This, however, is not preferred because the additional informationcan be confusing for the user. Most of the correspondingmedication-related information of the present invention generallyaligns. For example, in FIG. 1 the medication-related information 27“MORNING” of space 35 of tower 20 aligns with the medication-relatedinformation 29 “TAKE 1”, of space 42 of container 16. The exceptioninvolves blank spaces, such as space 43 of container 16 whereinmedication-related information 29 depicted as a blank space indicatesthat no medication “X” is to be taken during the correspondingmedication-related information 27 “NOON” period of space 36 of tower 20.

The cavities of the present invention can have any structure thatsustains the containers of the present invention.

Variations of the medication containers of the subject invention cancomprise any combination of shapes, materials, and dimensions.Medication containers, including those of the preferred and thealternative embodiments, of the present invention can include anycombination of the medication-related information and indicia of thepresent invention. The medication containers of the present inventioncan be sized to contain medicines such as inhalers, ointment tubes,drops, and any other form of medication, or combination of medicationsthereof. In reference to container 50, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, thepharmacist or other person can adjust the height of ring 67 on container50 in various ways. For example, the pharmacist can adjust ring 67 oncontainer 50 so that ring 67 locks at a predetermined location oncontainer 50. Therefore, locking ring 67 at a predetermined location onat least two containers 50 would assure leveling of label 32, andalignment of the indicia and medication-related information of thepresent invention.

The plaques of the current invention are preferably structured so thatthe plaques can either touch or be very close together when placed ontoa rack of the present invention, or on a flat surface. This makes iteasier for the user to be able to view the medication-relatedinformation and indicia of the present invention horizontally from onecontainer across to another. The plaques of the current invention can bestructured to be permanently or removably attached to any medicationcontainer or rack of the current invention, by any means. Plaques can bemade of any of various materials, and can constitute different shapesand sizes. The plaques of the current invention, the tower panels thatsustain the indicia and medication-related information of the presentinvention, as well as front panel 134 of container 130, are preferablygenerally flat. However, the plaques, the tower panels, as well as frontpanel 134, can be curved. Nevertheless, portraying the indicia andmedication-related information of the present invention on a surfacewhich is not generally flat is not preferred because it is easier forthe user to view horizontally, across the indicia and medication-relatedinformation of the present invention, of at least two indicia/medicationrelated information bearing members, over a generally flat surface, suchas container 130 front panel 134.

The medication time frames of the indicia/medication-related informationbearing members of the present invention can be outlined within anynumber of periods. For example, in addition to a “MORNING” space 35, a“NOON” space 36, an “EVENING” space 37, and a “NIGHT” space 38, thereare additional medication time frames that are included within the scopeof the present invention, such as a “MID-MORNING” time frame. Likewise,fewer times frames can be made to comprise theindicia/medication-related information of, for example, container 50,such as a single “MORNING” time frame. Additionally, the medication timeframes need not be explicit. For example, the terms “TAKE ONCE PER DAY”,and “TAKE TWICE DAILY” are also considered medication time frames, forthe purpose of the current invention.

Marker 14 can be comprised of any structure that: can sustain label 32,or any label/indicia/medication-related information of the currentinvention; facilitates the user's ability to horizontally view acrossthe medication-related information of marker 14, and of otherindicia/medication-related information bearing members that are placedclose to marker 14; enables marker 14 to be pegged into cavity 15, orsustained by any of the racks of the current invention, or placed on aflat surface.

Corresponding pill box 114 preferably includes only two medicationcavities corresponding to two medication time frames. However, pill box114 can be comprised of only one, or more than two cavities and timeframes. Indicia 115 and medication-related information 116 can bealternatively portrayed on any member of pill box 114, for example, on aside member of pill box 114.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by theembodiments noted, but by the appended claims and their legalequivalents.

1. A label for a medication container with at least one medication,wherein the improvement includes: (a) said label includingmedication-related information which correspond to themedication-related information of a label of at least one othermedication container; and (b) said label including indicia whichcorrespond to the indicia of said label of said at least one othermedication container, whereby a user's ability to view saidmedication-related information and also continuously view saidcorresponding medication-related information will be facilitated and,therefore, said user's ability to assimilate said medication-relatedinformation and said corresponding medication-related information willbe facilitated.
 2. The label of claim 1 wherein said indicia and saidmedication-related information are portrayed on another medium.
 3. Thelabel of claim 1 wherein said indicia is substantially aligned with saidcorresponding indicia of said at least one other medication container.4. The label of claim 3 wherein both said indicia include a differentcolored band for each one of a plurality of time frames relating to theconsumption of medications, said colored bands of said indicia matchsaid colored bands of said corresponding indicia.
 5. The label of claim1 wherein said medication-related information is substantially alignedwith said corresponding medication-related information of said at leastone other medication container.
 6. The label of claim 1 wherein saidmedication-related information includes at least two time frames,arranged vertically.
 7. The label of claim 1 wherein saidmedication-related information includes the quantity of medication forthe user to consume, said quantity of medication for the user to consumecorresponding to at least one time frame.
 8. The label of claim 7wherein said quantity of medication for the user to consume is comprisedof the word TAKE, said word TAKE followed by a number representing thequantity of medication for the user to consume.
 9. The label of claim 7wherein said quantity of medication for the user to consume is comprisedof a number representing the quantity of medication for the user toconsume, and a general description of the medication.
 10. The label ofclaim 1 wherein said medication container includes means tosubstantially level said medication-related information with saidcorresponding medication-related information of said at least one othermedication container.
 11. A medication rack for at least two medicationcontainers, wherein the improvement includes: (a) a base; and (b) meansto substantially level the corresponding medication-related informationof said at least two medication containers, whereby a user's ability toview the leveled medication-related information of the first one of saidat least two medication containers on said rack, and to continuouslyview the leveled corresponding medication-related information of thesecond one of said at least two medication containers on said medicationrack will be facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability toassimilate said medication-related information and said correspondingmedication-related information, will be facilitated.
 12. The medicationrack of claim 11, wherein said means to level said correspondingmedication-related information of said at least two medicationcontainers is comprised of cavities.
 13. The medication rack of claim11, wherein said means to level said at least two medication containersis comprised of at least one support for sustaining said at least twomedication containers, said support comprising a panel of predeterminedsize which is attached perpendicularly to and extends a predeterminedportion of the length of said base, said containers including a plaquethat is attached to said containers, said plaque of a predetermined sizeincluding an arm of predetermined size which connects to a ring which issized and structured to slip onto said containers and to attach to saidcontainers, said arm and said plaque to overlap said support so thatsaid containers will be sustained by said support.
 14. The medicationrack of claim 13, wherein said at least one support includes indiciawhich extends a predetermined length of said support, said indiciacorresponds with indicia of said plaques of said containers, so thatwhen said plaques overlap the indicia of said support, the user will beable to view continuously the medication-related information of said atleast two medication containers, even if said at least two medicationcontainers are not placed close to each other.
 15. A tower, wherein theimprovement includes: (a) a substantially flat panel of predeterminedsize; and (b) indicia and medication-related information which areportrayed on said tower and which correspond with the indicia andmedication-related information of at least one medication container,whereby a user's ability to view the medication-related information ofsaid tower and also continuously view the aligned and correspondingmedication-related information of said at least one medication containerwill be facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability to assimilatesaid medication-related information of said container will befacilitated.
 16. The tower of claim 15 wherein said medication-relatedinformation includes medication time frames.
 17. An apparatus forportraying medication-related information, wherein the improvementincludes: (a) a substantially flat plaque of predetermined size; and (a)means to attach said plaque to a medication container, whereby a user'sability to view medication-related information portrayed on said plaque,said plaque attached to said container, and also continuously viewcorresponding medication-related information portrayed on anothermedication-related information bearing member, will be facilitated and,therefore, said user's ability to assimilate said medication-relatedinformation and said corresponding medication-related information willbe facilitated.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 includingmedication-related information which corresponds with themedication-related information of at least another medication-relatedinformation bearing member.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein saidplaque attaches to said medication container with a ring ofpredetermined size, said ring being shaped to slip onto and attach tosaid container.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said ring isattached to said plaque with an arm of predetermined size, said armbeing of sufficient length so that said arm will rest on a support meansfor sustaining said container, said plaque and said containersandwiching said support means to sustain said container over saidsupport means.
 21. A pill box wherein the improvement includes: (a)medication-related information which corresponds with themedication-related information of at least one medication container; and(b) indicia which corresponds with the indicia of said at least onemedication container; and (c) at least one member of said pill box sizedto accommodate said indicia and said medication-related information thatcorresponds with the indicia and medication-related information of saidat least one medication container, whereby a user's ability to fill saidpill box will be facilitated by the indicia and medication-relatedinformation of said pill box, which corresponds to the indicia andmedication-related information of said at least one medicationcontainer, thus, the process of filling said pill box will representless confusion in comparison to conventional pill boxes.
 22. The pillboxof claim 21 wherein said medication-related information aligns with themedication-related information of said at least one container.
 23. Thepill box of claim 21 wherein said indicia aligns with the indicia ofsaid at least one container.
 24. A method for conveying themedication-related information of at least one medication contained in amedication container, wherein the improvement includes: (a) arranging,by a pharmacist or other person, said medication-related information sothat said medication-related information will correspond with themedication-related information of another indicia/medication-relatedinformation bearing member; and (b) portraying, by said pharmacist orother person, said medication-related information on said medicationcontainer; and (c) arranging, by said pharmacist or other person,indicia on said medication container so that said indicia willcorrespond with the indicia of said another indicia/medication-relatedinformation bearing member; and (d) portraying, by said pharmacist orother person, said indicia on said medication container, whereby saiduser's ability to view said medication-related information and alsocontinuously view said corresponding medication-related information willbe facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability to assimilate saidmedication-related information and said corresponding medication-relatedinformation will be facilitated.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein thepharmacist or other person arranges said medication-related informationso that said medication-related information substantially aligns withthe medication-related information of said anotherindicia/medication-related information bearing member.
 26. The method ofclaim 24 wherein the pharmacist or other person substantially levelssaid medication-related information with the medication-relatedinformation of said another indicia/medication-related informationbearing member.
 27. The method of claim 24 wherein the pharmacist orother person arranges said indicia so that said indicia substantiallyaligns with the indicia of said another indicia/medication-relatedinformation bearing member.
 28. The method of claim 24 wherein saidanother indicia/medication-related information bearing member iscomprised of at least one other medication container.
 29. The method ofclaim 24 wherein said another indicia/medication-related informationbearing member is comprised of a tower.
 30. A method for filling a pillbox with medication, wherein the improvement includes: (a) arranging, bya pharmacist or other person, medication-related information for saidpill box so that said medication-related information corresponds withthe medication-related information of at least one medication container;and (b) portraying, by the pharmacist or other person, saidmedication-related information on said pill box; and (c) arranging, bythe pharmacist or other person, indicia for said pill box so that saidindicia corresponds with the indicia of said at least one medicationcontainer; and (d) portraying, by the pharmacist or other person, saidindicia on said pill box, whereby a user's ability to fill said pill boxwill be facilitated by employing the corresponding indicia andmedication-related information of the present invention.
 31. The pillbox of claim 30 wherein said pharmacist or other person arranges saidmedication-related information so that said medication-relatedinformation substantially aligns with the medication-related informationof said at least one medication container.
 32. The pill box of claim 30wherein said pharmacist or other person arranges said indicia so thatsaid indicia substantially aligns with the indicia of said at least onemedication container.
 33. A container for medications, wherein theimprovement includes: (a) a substantially flat front panel, and (b) twosubstantially flat side panels, and (c) at least two substantially sharpcorners, and (d) said two side panels being integral with andsubstantially perpendicular to said front panel by way of said sharpcorners, whereby a user's ability to view the medication-relatedinformation and indicia of the present invention, horizontally acrossfrom one said container to another said container, will be facilitatedbecause the medication-related information and indicia of the presentinvention will either touch or to be very close together when thecontainers are placed next to each other.
 34. The container of claim 33wherein a substantially sharp top edge is included, said top edge beingintegral with said front panel.